Three days subsequent to the full establishment of suppuration, cut off one of the knots, and, laying hold of the other knot, withdraw the seton. Its advantages by this time are gained, and its longer stay, by hardening the opening through which it passed, would occasion lasting blemish.
The reason of its insertion is thus explained. Where foreign matter is confined, no wound will heal; the orifice may close, but soon after abscess forms. This process is repeated until the suffering is long protracted. Danger is generally proportioned to the duration of the evil, where wounds not of a mortal character are concerned. By the agency of the seton, the foreign matter is removed and the healing process thereby considerably expedited. After the above plan, all blemish may be lost by the expiration of the third month, and the once injured knee restored to its uses, being as fine as any other part of the body.
Everything being accomplished as it is here directed, no attempt must in the first instance be made to poke out any particle of dirt which the probe may touch. The bagging skin being divided by the seton having been established in the sac, no further thought need, for the present, be given to a common but most vexatious attendant upon the customary treatment for broken knees.
The animal should be returned to its usual stall and have the head "racked up." Some cold water should then be procured, with every quart of which two ounces of tincture of arnica should be blended. A portion of this fluid ought, with a clean sponge of moderate size, to be poured into a saucer; the groom must have strict orders to take the sponge, and, having saturated it with the fluid, to squeeze it quite dry, allowing the liquor to run over the injured knee—after the manner previously illustrated, as washing the wound. Two men are required for this office, which should be performed every half hour throughout the day and night for half a week. The injury being thus made continuously wet, the cold produced by evaporation keeps down inflammation, while the arnica is a potent remedy for bruises and all kinds of contusions or lacerations.
If at the expiration of the period named no swelling appears, and suppuration seems to be thoroughly established by means of the seton, the halter may be released to a great extent, a cradle being merely fixed upon the horse's neck; the animal will thereby be permitted to lie down and to enjoy its natural rest.
But should the joint be much enlarged, should the part have become acutely sensitive, while the horse resolutely refuses to bear any weight upon the injured limb, then withdraw the seton, give the animal two pots of stout per day, and all the oats mingled with old beans which it will consume. Untie the head and place the horse in slings; employ the arnica lotion night and day, until the slough is thrown off, which, having taken place, change the liquid application for the solution of chloride of zinc—one scruple to the pint of water—and continue to employ this last lotion after precisely the same manner as has been previously directed.
Probabilities, however remote they may seem to be, are here endeavored to be anticipated; although the author's experience cannot recall a single case where the arnica lotion has been used with proper assiduity, and any but the most happy results have followed. When an animal has fallen violently to the earth, and has been, in the first instance, shown to the writer with much tumefaction and excessive tenderness, a slough has in exceptional cases followed; but never has the enlargement or the sensitiveness increased under the proper use of the arnica lotion. The slough, moreover, in such instances, has been superficial, only entailing loss of hair, and never occasioning open joint.
All horses are exposed to these accidents for the reasons already stated. Whenever such misfortunes occur, employ the arnica lotion. Should the skin be divided, still use the arnica lotion until copious suppuration is established. The secretion once seen, resort to the lotion formed of chloride of zinc and water—one grain to the ounce—which operates most marvelously upon all suppurating wounds.
No absolute period can be stated which a case of broken knees, when severe, ought to occupy. The danger, however, is generally passed by the expiration of a week, and the cure commonly entails loss of services for a couple of months.
